HC asks why Rajuk-Gulshan Youth Club deal for Gulshan Central Park should not be scrapped

The High Court has issued a rule asking why an agreement between Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Gulshan Youth Club for managing Gulshan Central Park in the capital should not be declared illegal and cancelled. A bench of Justice Md Iqbal Kabir and Justice SM Saiful Islam issued the rule yesterday (7 September) following the preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed over the agreement. The court asked the secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Rajuk chairman, Bangladesh Police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner to respond to the rule within four weeks. Urban planner Dr Adil Muhammad Khan, environmentalist Firoz Ahmed, Amirul Rajib and Syeda Shaheen Mahbub filed the writ petition. Advocates Syed Mahbubul Alam and Barrister Nishat Mahmud represented the petitioners at the hearing. According to the petition, Rajuk's agreement with Gulshan Youth Club allows the club to collect money from citizens for using the park and playground, which allegedly violates laws governing the preservation of playgrounds, parks and water bodies. The petition also alleged that Gulshan Youth Club has been constructing various structures at the park in violation of laws concerning playgrounds, parks and water bodies, as well as directives issued by the Appellate Division. Speaking to reporters, Barrister Nishat Mahmud said the court also issued a rule asking why the collection of fees for using the playground under the Rajuk-Gulshan Youth Club agreement and the construction of allegedly illegal structures should not be declared unlawful. The court further asked why an expert committee should not be formed to identify structures constructed in violation of the master plan. The rule comes amid concerns over the use and development of public parks and playgrounds in the capital.